https://www.middleeastmonitor.com Latest news from the Middle East and North Africa Tue, 08 Aug 2023 11:51:39 +0000 en-GB Middle East Monitor 30 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.2.2 https://i0.wp.com/www.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/favicon.png?fit=32%2C32&quality=85&strip=all&zoom=1&ssl=1 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com 32 32 116394717 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230731-is-the-west-turning-against-kosovo-to-appease-the-serbs/ Mon, 31 Jul 2023 11:04:55 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=656663 In a globalised world where a largely stable international order of nation states with agreed-upon boundaries is in place, borders contested by rival nations are few and far between. Those who grow up in the Western world in particular are generally unaware of such places, or at least ignorant of how they operate. Yet as I made my way from Serbia into Kosovo in early July, I was reminded that the border is one of those that remain contested. Having come from the steadiness of quiet Zagreb and then into the bustling energy of cosmopolitan Belgrade, I was woken up to the reality that is the former Yugoslavia as I passed under numerous bridges and signs proclaiming "Kosovo is Serbia". […]]]> 656663 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20230529-erdogan-supporters-worldwide-celebrate-turkish-election-victory/ Mon, 29 May 2023 18:01:26 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=640549 READ: Erdogan wins election according to Supreme Election Council]]> 640549 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221219-beckham-praises-fifa-world-cup-experience-in-qatar/ Mon, 19 Dec 2022 11:59:27 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=601342 Former England footballer David Beckham has praised the quality of the visitor experience at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar for uniting fans from across the globe. Beckham played in three World Cup tournaments for the England team. "Seeing the fans come together and the level of football, it's been amazing," he told Qatar2022.qa. "It's been a privilege to see the excitement and the fun the fans are having." Qatar has succeeded in organising the most physically compact World Cup tournament in recent times, with all eight stadiums used for matches within an hour's journey time of central Doha. This allowed fans to attend more than one match a day in the group stages. READ: Qatar furious over Belgian probe into […]]]> 601342 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221204-egypt-seeks-to-foster-ties-with-serbias-muslims-to-counter-brotherhood-in-kosovo/ Sun, 04 Dec 2022 15:19:51 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=598502 Egypt is looking to reach out to Serbia's Muslim community as part of efforts to boost its influence in the Balkans, according to a report by Al-Monitor. On 16 November Egypt's ambassador to Belgrade, Bassel Salah met with Serbia's Grand Mufti Sheikh Mustafa Yusuf Spahic, where it was agreed that Cairo will send religious envoys to the south eastern European country to provide Serbian Muslim students the opportunity to study at Egypt's prestigious Al-Azhar University. Salah also said that the Serbian Muslim scholars will be invited to attend Egyptian Islamic conferences. READ: Christian rights' group welcomes Egypt legalisation of 125 churches It has been speculated that Cairo's overtures to Serbia's Muslim minority is intended to counter the growing influence of […]]]> 598502 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221019-22-countries-requested-to-purchase-iran-military-drones-official-says/ Wed, 19 Oct 2022 09:03:53 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=587401 Some 22 countries have submitted official requests to purchase Iranian-made military drones, former Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and top military aide to Iran's Supreme Leader, Major General Yahia Rahim Safavi, said. "The current candidate countries to buy Iranian drones are Armenia, Tajikistan, Serbia, Algeria, Venezuela and other countries," Safavi said yesterday. He added that before the Islamic Revolution, Iran used to import 80 per cent of its military needs from abroad, however, it now produces them. On Monday, Israeli media outlets reported that the Iranian-made drone Shahed 136 had been used by Russia in Ukraine. Israel's Walla website said Israel is closely following this development as it may affect any future conflict with Iran. READ: Iran agrees […]]]> 587401 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221007-fm-hungary-austria-to-help-serbia-curb-border-crossings/ Fri, 07 Oct 2022 09:58:03 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=584805 Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said yesterday that his country and Austria will help Serbia curb the number of migrants crossing its southern borders, pointing to an "explosion" in the number of people entering European countries without permits in recent months. Szijjarto explained that Hungary and Austria will provide Serbia with the necessary equipment and personnel to better secure its border with North Macedonia. The minister's remarks came after delegations from the three countries met in the Serbian capital, Belgrade. READ: Frontex speaks out after claims Greece pushing refugee boats back to Turkiye "It is in our common interest to move the defence line to the south, and for this reason we agreed to join efforts," Serbian media quoted Szijjarto […]]]> 584805 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20221005-has-the-day-finally-arrived-for-the-european-political-community/ Wed, 05 Oct 2022 11:18:20 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=584506 Internationally, the balance of power, institutions and organisations are changing rapidly. With the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, a renewed quest for influence over the balance of power in Europe has started. The EU seems to have suspended its enlargement plans in order to deter any further withdrawals. Given that there are still countries waiting for EU membership in the Western Balkans, it is no exaggeration to suggest that the difficulty of accepting a large country like Turkiye as a member of the bloc and Brexit are factors in the suspension of EU enlargement plans. Russia's military aggression against Ukraine has required this approach to be updated. Some voices in Brussels have called for the fast-tracking […]]]> 584506 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220921-if-the-west-is-not-careful-russia-will-make-the-balkans-a-second-front/ Wed, 21 Sep 2022 17:02:35 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=581869 This month has likely been the most crushing for Russia since it launched its invasion of Ukraine almost seven months ago. In an aggressive counter-offensive operation, Ukrainian forces recaptured the cities of Kharkiv and Kupiansk, reportedly retaking 3,000 square kilometres of territory rapidly, and driving out Russian forces. Aside from Kherson and the annexed territories in the east of the country, Moscow has, so far, been unable to maintain hold of any other major Ukrainian city until now. Seven months in, things are not working out well for Russia. One failure does not necessarily translate into another failure in a different arena, however, as the Kremlin and its various agents still remain capable and successful agitators, influencers and disruptors. That […]]]> 581869 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220713-netherlands-apologises-for-srebrenica-genocide-27-years-later/ Wed, 13 Jul 2022 10:27:00 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=566478 The Dutch government on Monday issued "deepest apologies' for the role played by Dutch peacekeepers in Bosnia when an estimated 8,000 Bosniak Muslims were massacred by Serb forces, Anadolu reported. Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren offered the apology on the 27th commemoration of the genocide at the cemetery in Potocari in Bosnia and Herzegovina. "Only one party is to blame for the horrific genocide: the Bosnian Serb army," Ollongren said. "But let me be clear. The international community failed to offer adequate protection to the people of Srebrenica and as part of that community the Dutch government shares responsibility for the situation in which that failure occurred. And for this we offer our deepest apologies," Ollongren said, putting her hand […]]]> 566478 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220406-irish-auto-parts-manufacturer-leaves-ukraine-relocates-to-morocco/ Wed, 06 Apr 2022 09:55:23 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=547008 An Irish factory which specialises in electrical parts and car cables has decided to suspend its activities in Ukraine and relocate to other countries, including Morocco, the Moroccan television website SNRTnews reported. According to the station, Aptiv, which is based in Dublin, will move production to Poland, Romania, Serbia and Morocco. "The process of moving production outside Ukraine will take more than six weeks," it added. Since the outbreak of the Russian war on Ukraine, car sales have been suspended in Ukraine, and several factories employing tens of thousands of workers have shut down. On 24 February, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine, amid international condemnation which led to the imposition of tough economic and financial sanctions on Moscow. READ: Morocco […]]]> 547008 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220311-history-is-repeating-itself-from-bosnia-to-ukraine/ Fri, 11 Mar 2022 14:19:56 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=541746 On 5 March 1992, Aida woke up to bombing and shooting as the Serbian army opened fire from the iconic Holiday Inn Hotel and killed two women protesting on the Vrbanja Bridge. In order to continue her medical studies, she had to escape from her beloved city Sarajevo to Germany as a result of the Serbian occupation. Today, the trauma which Aida experienced during the siege of Sarajevo (5 Apr 1992–29 Feb 1996) is repeating itself in Ukraine. Twenty-three years later, while I was working at the Turkish Embassy in Sarajevo, I would live through the trauma of war and see the many bullet holes that were visible on the buildings. In Sarajevo, it is difficult to find a building […]]]> 541746 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220202-iraq-top-target-for-chinas-belt-and-road-initiative-in-2021/ Wed, 02 Feb 2022 11:32:41 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=531310 Iraq was the top target for China's Belt & Road infrastructure initiative in 2021, receiving $10.5 billion in financing for projects including a heavy oil power plant, a study published today said. Reuters reported that in total, China's engagement through investments and contractual cooperation across the 144 Belt & Road Initiative (BRI) countries was $59.5 billion, in line with the $60.5 billion in 2020, according to the report by the Green Finance & Development Center at Shanghai's Fudan University. However, in Arab and Middle Eastern countries, investment last year rose by about 360 per cent and construction engagement by 116 per cent compared to 2020, the study said. Iraq, where the United States ended its combat mission last year, has become the […]]]> 531310 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220126-serbia-extradites-bahrain-opposition-figure/ Wed, 26 Jan 2022 12:26:03 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=529504 The Serbian authorities have extradited a Bahrain opposition figure to Manama despite an injunction issued by the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), the Guardian has reported. Ahmed Jaafar Muhammad Ali, 48, was sentenced in absentia to life in prison in 2013 for alleged terrorist activities. Human rights groups have accused Bahrain of seeking to suppress dissent in the kingdom through such allegations. Popular protests have taken place there since the Arab Spring started in 2011. The ECHR issued an injunction for the extradition to be postponed to allow the Serbs time to respond to the court's request for more information. The court had been asked by the Belgrade Centre for Human Rights to consider Ali's case. Failure to comply, […]]]> 529504 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220119-erdogan-and-vucic-agree-on-bringing-peace-to-bosnia/ Wed, 19 Jan 2022 14:51:57 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=527892 Turkish President, Tayyip Erdogan, said he and Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic, agreed on Tuesday to broker crisis talks involving all parties in Bosnia after elections in Serbia in April, Reuters reports. "We have agreed to bring together Serb, Croat and Bosnian leaders and solve the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina," President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said late Tuesday in a press conference with his Serbian counterpart, Aleksandar Vucic. "The international community must act together to overcome the crisis in Bosnia and Herzegovina," Erdogan also said. On the other hand, Vucic underlined that Belgrade highly respects the territorial integrity of neighbouring Bosnia and Herzegovina. Erdoğan also noted that Turkey and Serbia recently increased their trade volume to $2 billion, adding that the […]]]> 527892 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211223-why-are-the-us-and-eu-silent-about-serb-secessionist-milorad-dodik/ Thu, 23 Dec 2021 19:01:26 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=522284 The Serbian member of Bosnia and Herzegovina's joint presidency council warned earlier this month that the Serbs of the multi-ethnic European country would leave the federation if the government failed to resolve the challenging political situation. "It is inevitable that Bosnia and Herzegovina will break up and Republika Srpska would leave the country if we cannot overcome the difficult situations we are in," warned Milorad Dodik. This was not the first time that Dodik has made a comment which hints at his plan to take the Serb-dominated territories out of the federation. The US, the West and other powers have condemned these remarks and called for Dodik to retract them, but instead, he has taken several measures on the ground. […]]]> 522284 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211213-egypt-serbia-discuss-military-cooperation/ Mon, 13 Dec 2021 14:00:46 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=519688 Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi yesterday met the Serbian national assembly speaker, Ivica Dacic, in Cairo to mull bilateral relations. The presidency office said in a statement that the meeting had discussed "ways of boosting bilateral relations, particularly in the fields of healthcare, energy, tourism, as well as military cooperation, counter-terrorism, and illegal migration." "The talks also touched on the latest regional and international developments of mutual interest, notably the Palestinian cause," the statement read, adding that the meeting had also "tackled ways to reinforce security and stability in the region." The leaders also discussed mutual coordination in international forums "in light of Serbia's balanced positions in support of Arab issues," according to the statement. Egypt-Serbia relations date back to […]]]> 519688 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211029-turkish-jewellery-fair-kicks-off-in-serbia/ Thu, 28 Oct 2021 23:07:48 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=505919 Turkey's first-ever jewellery and jewellery industry machinery fair in Serbia kicked off in the capital, Belgrade, on Thursday, Anadolu News Agency reports. Participants from Turkey, Serbia and Italy are displaying their wares and showing off jewellery industry innovations to visitors for three days. During the fair at the Belgrade Fair Centre, the participants are presenting unique designs of jewellery, accessories, and machinery for the industry. Turkey's ambassador in Belgrade, Hami Aksoy, told Anadolu Agency that the jewellery industry has made great progress in recent years. READ: How Islamic art inspired Cartier jewellery "The opening of the fair was very good for promoting the Turkish jewellery industry and improving business opportunities in Serbia," he added. Gokhan Aksu, project partner of Meridyen […]]]> 505919 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211011-azerbaijan-non-aligned-movement-contributes-to-world-peace-justice/ Mon, 11 Oct 2021 18:05:17 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=500694 The Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) is contributing to world peace, justice, and solidarity, the Azerbaijani president said on Monday, as the group marks its 60th anniversary. The Non-Aligned Movement gathered in Serbia's capital, Belgrade, for a high-level commemorative meeting. "The NAM has played an important role in the international arena with its dedicated efforts for the sake of global peace, justice, and solidarity," Ilham Aliyev, the term president of the bloc, said in his opening speech via video conference. Azerbaijan will continue to work to increase solidarity within the movement, the president pledged. "The violation of the territorial integrity of states with the use of force is totally unacceptable. Azerbaijan fully supports the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of all […]]]> 500694 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211011-turkish-fm-meets-counterparts-from-6-countries-at-nam-summit/ Mon, 11 Oct 2021 17:06:49 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=500688 On Monday, the Turkish foreign minister met his counterparts from Azerbaijan, Russia, Nepal, Guatemala, Lebanon, and Iraq during his visit to Serbia, reports Anadolu Agency. Mevlut Cavusoglu arrived in the Serbian capital, Belgrade, on Sunday to attend a 2-day summit marking the 60th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), a forum of 120 developing world states that are not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. "We continued our bilateral talks on the margins of the Non-Aligned Summit with the Foreign Ministers of Nepal, Guatemala, Lebanon, and Iraq," he said in a tweet. On his meeting with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister, Ceyhun Bayramov, Cavusoglu said they discussed bilateral relations and preparations for the Turkic Council Summit in Istanbul on […]]]> 500688 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20211011-serbia-will-not-move-its-israel-embassy-to-jerusalem/ Mon, 11 Oct 2021 13:23:40 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=500399 Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad Al-Maliki yesterday met with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic to discuss bilateral cooperation relations, reported Wafa news agency. The talks were held at the presidential palace, where the Palestinian delegation came immediately after arriving in Belgrade. At the beginning of the talks, Vucic expressed great joy for the participation of Palestine in the Non-Aligned Movement Summit. The Non-Aligned Movement was established during the era of decolonisation by numerous developing countries that had recently won their independence and who chose to pursue an independent foreign policy. He underlined the importance of cooperation between Palestine and Serbia, as well as the necessity to deepen their relations. He also confirmed that his country will not move its embassy to Israel to Jerusalem […]]]> 500399 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210714-egypt-signs-military-cooperation-protocol-with-serbia/ Wed, 14 Jul 2021 08:38:00 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=483161 Egypt's Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki on Tuesday signed a military cooperation protocol with his Serbian counterpart, Nebojša Stefanović, in a meeting in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo. The meeting discussed a number of issues of mutual interest, including "military cooperation and the exchange of experiences and knowledge between the two countries," according to a statement by the Egyptian Army. Zaki lauded what he described as: "Deeply-rooted relations between Egypt and Serbia in the military field." The meeting was attended by the Egyptian Army's Chief of Staff Mohamed Farid, several senior military officials and the military attaché of the Serbian Embassy in Egypt. READ: Guaranteed impunity, Sisi has increased his violations]]> 483161 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20210318-us-arrested-3-yemenis-on-terror-watchlist-at-mexico-border-in-2020/ Thu, 18 Mar 2021 09:31:26 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=461690 The US Customs and Border Protection agency informed the Congress on Tuesday that four people were arrested at America's southern border on 1 October last year whose names match the FBI's Terrorist Screening Database or watch list, Axios news site reported. Axios quoted a congressional aide briefed on the correspondence as saying that three of the detainees were from Yemen and the other was from Serbia. Republican House members who visited the border on Monday claimed that an unspecified number of migrants crossing the border had names matching those on the terror watch list. However, the Washington Post said there is no indication that any bona fide terrorist has been encountered at any point along the southern border. According to Axios, the majority of migrants arriving in […]]]> 461690 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20201202-high-death-rate-as-serbias-orthodox-church-neglects-anti-covid-measures/ Wed, 02 Dec 2020 10:52:24 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=438236 The Serbian Orthodox Church paid a heavy price for its disregard for measures to prevent coronavirus, which led to the death of the head of the church, Patriarch Irinej of Serbia. Last week, Patriarch Irinej died as a result of the virus after the church continued to allow funerals attended by thousands of people to be held. On 30 October, the head of the Orthodox Church in Montenegro, Bishop Amfilohije, died of coronavirus, sparking controversy about the lack of adherence to social distancing and other COVID-19 preventative measures by the church. The funeral of one of the most prominent religious figures for Serbs in Montenegro was attended by the Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Patriarch Irinej. In early November, Patriarch […]]]> 438236 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200910-serbia-will-not-move-embassy-to-jerusalem-if-israel-recognises-kosovos-independence/ Thu, 10 Sep 2020 10:53:01 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=421414 Serbia will not move its embassy to Jerusalem if Israel recognises Kosovo as an independent state, the Times of Israel reported yesterday. According to the Israeli newspaper, a source close to the government in Belgrade warned that formal Israeli recognition of Pristina's independence would "destroy" Israel's relationship with Serbia. "This could end up being a real mess, unless there is a compromise on what sort of relationship Israel will end up having with Kosovo," the source told the Times of Israel. "Diplomatic relations with Kosovo are one thing, recognition as an independent country is another thing entirely. This would destroy the Israel-Serbia relationship," the Serbian source said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Friday that Kosovo and Israel had decided to "establish full […]]]> 421414 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200907-serbia-and-kosovo-embassy-move-to-occupied-jerusalem-could-backfire-say-ex-israel-envoys/ Mon, 07 Sep 2020 12:53:57 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=420842 Last week's decision by Serbia and Kosovo to open embassies in Jerusalem has been met with criticism from a surprising source. Two former envoys of the Zionist state have expressed deep scepticism over the move by the rival Balkan states. With Serbia, along with dozens of other countries not recognising Kosovo, the former diplomats have suggested that this decision could in fact backfire. "We're not connected to the Balkan conflict, and we're not supposed to be [in the pact]," Israel's former ambassador to Serbia, Arthur Koll, is reported saying in the Jerusalem Post while railing against the embassy move. "The question that should be raised is why Israel was thrown in there," he said. Explaining that the plan could backfire, Koll said that for […]]]> 420842 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200907-erekat-trump-forcing-countries-to-move-embassies-to-jerusalem/ Mon, 07 Sep 2020 12:13:28 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=420824 Secretary-General of the PLO's Executive Committee Saeb Erekat said yesterday that US President Donald Trump is forcing countries to move their embassies to Jerusalem, Anadolu reported. Taking to Twitter, Erekat wrote: "President Trump is not only steadfast on violating international law but insists on embarrassing his guests." He attached a video of Trump thanking Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic for agreeing to move his country's embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. However, the video shows Vucic looking puzzled at the announcement and scanning the documents in his hands to see where such an agreement was made. Erekat added, adding Vucic: "No need to be embarrassed , stay the course with int. law , do-not move the embassy to Jerusalem. It is obvious that a […]]]> 420824 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200904-serbia-kosovo-to-open-israel-embassies-in-jerusalem/ Fri, 04 Sep 2020 18:02:38 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=420274 Israel and Kosovo have agreed to establish diplomatic ties and Kosovo, along with Serbia, will open embassies in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Friday, Reuters reports. Netanyahu's statement came shortly after US President Donald Trump made a similar announcement in Washington, where he met with leaders of Serbia and Kosovo as they agreed to normalize economic ties between them. "Kosovo will be the first country with a Muslim majority to open an embassy in Jerusalem," Netanyahu said. "As I've said in recent days – the circle of peace and recognition of Israel is expanding and more countries are expected to join." READ: Further Arab normalisation with Israel is waiting in the wings Only two countries – the United States […]]]> 420274 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200717-in-25-years-only-the-number-of-tombstones-has-changed-in-srebrenica/ Fri, 17 Jul 2020 18:46:12 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=410972 Distinguished Bosnian politician and commander Serif Patkovic has spoken out on the Srebrenica genocide and the situation in Bosnia 25 years after the "litany of crimes" was committed, as the International Court of Justice called it. Speaking exclusively to MEMO, Patkovic looked at the ethnic cleansing at the heart of Europe and questioned the EU and UN's ethical values as Srebrenica was defined a safe zone and Bosnian Muslims moved there for protection before the massacre. "Twenty-five years later we have the international community's addmittance and recognition of their responsibility for the genocide," he explains. "Its different in a way that accomplices in genocide were countries that share European values – the United Nations took responsibility for Srebrenica as a safe […]]]> 410972 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200707-srebrenica-25-years-on-and-reconciliation-seems-impossible/ Tue, 07 Jul 2020 10:36:39 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=409215 This year marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide in which more than 8,000 Bosnian Muslim men and boys were brutally slaughtered by Bosnian Serb forces led by Ratko Mladic. The slaughter took place in a supposed UN Safe Area. A quarter of a century later, reconciliation still seems to be a remote possibility. Nationalist Bosnian Serbs show no signs of reckoning with what happened and no commitment to a multi-ethnic country. They continue to deny the genocide, and threaten to break away and create their own independent state. Such divisive rhetoric and actions both undermine the delicate balance of the post-war order, and constitute a gruesome recipe for a renewal of conflict. It is impossible to dispute that […]]]> 409215 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200306-serbia-might-close-its-borders-to-asylum-seekers/ Fri, 06 Mar 2020 18:00:09 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=390643 If national security is endangered, Serbia will close its borders hermetically, said President Aleksandar Vucic, Anadolu Agency reports. Vucic on Friday said that he has instructed the Serbian Army, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Security Information Agency to prepare plans to close Serbia's borders during the migrant crisis. "If Serbia's national security were threatened, we would close our borders almost hermetically," Vucic told reporters, adding that he hoped that would not happen. He said Serbia is ready to close its borders within 12 hours and reiterated that he hoped they would not have to do so. Serbia has had a humanistic attitude towards refugees but the country does not want to be a victim. "If we were to be the only victim and to […]]]> 390643 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200302-serbia-to-buy-substantial-number-of-weapons-from-israel/ Mon, 02 Mar 2020 15:56:38 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=389809 Serbia's President Alexander Vucic announced his plans to buy weapons from Israel and open an "official state office" in Jerusalem during AIPAC's annual conference in Washington at the weekend. Vucic added that a diplomatic office would follow, bearing Serbia's national flag. "We're trying to find the best possible way to do something officially in Jerusalem," he explained. "We have always had a good relationship with Jews, throughout history. We love the Jewish people, we have always had a great relationship and we'll do our best to improve our relationship." According to an interview in the Jerusalem Post, Vucic said that the arms purchase from Israel will "not be a small delivery". In response to questions about the pro-Palestine Boycott, Divestment, […]]]> 389809 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200120-genocide-the-sequel-now-muslims-are-the-target/ Mon, 20 Jan 2020 18:42:40 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=382068 We are approaching that time of year when people of many faiths and none come together in unity to mark Holocaust Memorial Day, which serves as a stark reminder of how genocidal regimes throughout history have crushed communities by "othering", marginalising and ultimately murdering minority groups. This year not only marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, where more than one million Jews were exterminated by the Nazis, but also the 25th anniversary of the Serbian genocide of Bosnians in Srebrenica. The cries of "Never again" are linked indelibly to the Holocaust, which witnessed the ideological and systematic industrialised mass murder of millions of European Jews — as well as Gypsies, disabled people, dissidents, trade […]]]> 382068 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200118-greek-politician-likens-haftar-to-serbian-war-criminal/ Sat, 18 Jan 2020 11:30:46 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=381697 381697 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20200109-serbia-palestine-sign-security-cooperation/ Thu, 09 Jan 2020 22:00:51 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=380443 Palestine would like to work very closely together with Serbia, Palestinian Foreign Minister Riyad al-Maliki said Thursday, Anadolu Agency reports. Serbia has proven to be a "loyal partner and someone committed to principles," Maliki said at a news conference in the Serbian capital, alongside his Serbian counterpart, Ivica Dacic. Serbia and Palestine signed an agreement Wednesday on security cooperation, which envisages the exchange of experience and information, as well as the fight against crime and terrorism. READ: Israel's plan to isolate Al-Aqsa Mosque, end Waqf role Dacic said Palestine has always supported Serbia in international organisations and on "one of the most difficult issues such as territorial integrity and sovereignty." He also stressed that Serbia supports a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian issue. […]]]> 380443 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191211-erdogan-calls-nobel-literature-prize-winner-the-representative-of-a-vampire-scholars-community/ Wed, 11 Dec 2019 17:50:33 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=375959 Turkey's president on Wednesday, Dec. 11, harshly criticized the accused war crimes supporter Austrian writer Peter Handke after he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, Reuters reports. Speaking at a local event in the Turkish capital Ankara, Recep Tayyip Erdogan compared Handke to a vampire and said: "That the Nobel has been awarded to such a man called Handke, who is the representative of a vampire scholars community, means that a vampire community appeared. Therefore, we cannot regard the Nobel foundation as a foundation, which really acts in a just and equal manner." Handke was awarded the prize despite his open support for Serbian leader Slobodan Milosevic, who died in 2006 during his trial for war crimes and genocide […]]]> 375959 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20191011-nobel-prize-awarded-to-srebrenica-genocide-denier/ Fri, 11 Oct 2019 11:29:25 +0000 Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=366483 The decision to award the Austrian playwright Peter Handke the 2019 Nobel Prize for Literature has sparked outrage after he previously denied the Srebrenica genocide. In 1995, during the Bosnian war, the Serbian army entered the town of Srebrenica and killed over 8,000 Bosnian Muslims over five days, the biggest war crime in Europe since World War II. Albania's Foreign Minister Gent Cakaj said on Twitter it was shameful that the award had been given to a "genocide denier". Albanian Prime Minister wrote: "Never thought would feel to vomit because of a Nobel Prize." Handke, who in 2006 attended and spoke at former President of Serbia Slobodan Milosevic's funeral, will receive nine million Swedish kroner ($917,000). Milosevic was indicted in 1999 […]]]> 366483 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20190318-the-new-zealand-massacre-is-an-example-of-hateful-racism-in-the-west/ Mon, 18 Mar 2019 02:29:16 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=333776 The Australian terrorist who committed the massacre at a mosque in New Zealand was calmly and even happily listening to music as he committed his crime. He was listening to a Serbian song that glorified the Serbian criminal leader Radovan Karadzic, who committed the Serbian massacres against Muslims in Bosnia. The song lyrics include, "Wolves are on the move from Krajina. Karadzic leads your Serbs; let them see they fear no one." The song played as he live-streamed the massacre, meaning that there was an audience that was watching him and encouraging him to commit this act, and that he was communicating with someone and that he was working for them. He revealed this when he said his attack was […]]]> 333776 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180708-swedish-activist-granted-palestinian-citizenship/ Sun, 08 Jul 2018 07:54:38 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=296855 Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas granted Palestinian citizenship Friday to Swedish activist Benjamin Ladraa, who has been walking from Sweden to Palestine to raise awareness on human rights violations. "This step is taken to appreciate Ladraa's efforts and his position to support the Palestinian people," Abbas said according to a report by the official Wafa news agency. Ladraa was barred by Israeli police from entering Palestine earlier in the day. Palestinian resistance group Hamas condemned the move. In a brief statement, Hamas spokesman Fawzi Barhoum said the ban reflects Israel's isolation policy for the Palestinian people and its unfairness and pressure on people in Palestine. The 25-year-old began his walk to Palestine from Sweden nearly a year ago to raise awareness on human […]]]> 296855 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20180303-syrian-refugees-guitar-opens-doors-to-new-life-in-belgium/ Sat, 03 Mar 2018 11:38:34 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=280282   Basil Khalil was far from home when he arrived in Belgium as a refugee having fled the war in Syria in 2012, lived in Egypt and Turkey and crossed the Mediterranean but his guitar has given him friendship and a sense of belonging, Reuters reports. The former music teacher played guitar on the streets of Istanbul and in muddy migrant camps of Serbia, where he sought to cheer up those around him with his songs. In Belgium he got refugee status and it was music that overcame language barriers and helped him make friends such as Jean Davidts, who heard him play in a Belgian migrant camp and invited him to stay with him and his wife for a year. READ: […]]]> 280282 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20171010-recep-tayyip-erdogan-in-serbia/ Tue, 10 Oct 2017 17:10:53 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=260257 ]]> 260257 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170703-concealing-israels-arms-exports-to-perpetrators-of-genocide-is-a-moral-obligation/ Mon, 03 Jul 2017 15:08:24 +0000 , Middle East Monitor https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=242813 In November 2016 Israel's Supreme Court rejected a petition to reveal details of Israeli defence exports to the former Yugoslavia during the genocide in Bosnia in the 1990s. The court ruled that exposing Israeli involvement in genocide would damage the country's foreign relations to such an extent that it would outweigh the public interest in knowing that information, and the possible prosecution of those involved. We the petitioners, Attorney Eitay Mack and I presented the court with concrete evidence of Israeli defence exports to Serbian forces at the time, including training as well as ammunition and rifles. Among other things, they presented the personal journal of General Ratko Mladić, currently on trial at the International Court of Justice for committing […]]]> 242813 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20170508-serbia-relocates-refugees-due-to-growing-risk-of-disease/ Mon, 08 May 2017 09:56:31 +0000 https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/?p=231582 After months living in an abandoned military barracks in the Serbian capital Belgrade, authorities have told refugees that they have to move to official reception centres across the country due to the growing risk of disease. #Refugees line up for the once-daily food distribution provided by international volunteers at the Barracks. https://t.co/D4MB4slIKA #Serbia pic.twitter.com/V8cAky1Jrp — Real Medicine (@RealMedicine) April 28, 2017 Activists have raised concerns over the move, questioning whether the refugees would be locked in the centres and if they would have access to the rights they've been guaranteed. Those who do not have official documents could be told to leave Serbia. Since neighbouring countries closed their borders in March 2016, over 7,000 refugees and migrants have been stranded […]]]> 231582